Karate tourney Sunday

Steve Nugent’s Karate Institute of Burlington will host its 10th annual Bay State Invitational on Sunday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall Simonds Middle School on Winn Street in Burlington.

Doug Hastings

Steve Nugent’s Karate Institute of Burlington will host its 10th annual Bay State Invitational on Sunday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall Simonds Middle School on Winn Street in Burlington.

Tickets to attend the event will be $10 and sold at the door the morning of the event.

Competitors throughout the area are encouraged to participate.

At the tournament, athletes from ages four to 66 will be vying for the top spots in forms, weapons and fighting in many different age categories and skill levels. The cost to compete is $45. Prize money totaling $1,250 will be on the line as each black belt grand champion will win $250.

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to all top finishers.

Nugent, a former world champion in karate and kickboxing, said several demonstrations will be held along with the tournaments. Also at the event will be Jim Tatosky, the founder of Shotakan Karate, and George Pesare, who introduced Kenpo Karate to the New England area.

“I believe this is the first time that they will both be at the same tournament,” said Nugent, who added that each person will be available for photos and autographs.

Nugent’s school in Burlington is the home of the U.S. National Karate team. Local competitors from that squad that are likely to compete on Sunday include Burlington residents Davis Le, Eric Forbush, Laurie Glasser and Jeannine Casey. Casey (weapons) and Glasser (forms) are both the top rated women in the over-40 age group in the country while Le, 16, and Forbush, 17, are current high school students.